TRANSLATION OF INTERVIEW WITH SALEH AL-OUFI, THE NEW LEADER OF THE MUJAHIDEEN IN SAUDI ARABIA
SITE Institute
http://www.siteinstitute.org/exposing.asp?id=250
SITE Institute,7/8/2004 - As a preview of the upcoming Sout Al Jihad, an interview with the new leader of the mujahideen in Saudi Arabia, Saleh al-Oufi, was posted to a Jihadist website at the end of June. Al-Oufi, one of Saudi Arabia’s most wanted individuals, took over the position as head of the mujahideen after the recent killing of former commander Abdel-Aziz Al-Muqrin by Saudi security forces in June. In the interview, Al-Oufi describes how he fought with the mujahideen in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Chechnya, and exhorts the mujahideen to fight Westerners by remaining in Saudi Arabia rather than travel to Iraq.
Below is the SITE Institute’s translation of the entire interview.
NOTE: The following materials are for informational purposes only and may not be copied, reproduced, or transmitted without the explicit permission of the SITE Institute nor without specific attribution to the SITE Institute.
AL QAEDA PUBLICATION, “SOUT AL JIHAD”, INTERVIEWS
“SALEH AL OUFI”, NEW LEADER OF THE MUJAHIDEEN IN
THE “AL HARAMAIN COUNTRY” [SAUDI ARABIA]
Message was posted on a Jihadist Website on June 25, 2004
In an attempt to bring to light the truth about the Mujahideen, their goals and their demands, “Sout Al Jihad” magazine aims at meeting with the Mujahideen, and tries to get to know their personalities. Today it is introducing Al Muqrin’s successor in the leadership of the Mujahideen in Saudi Arabia, “Abu Abdullah” [nickname].
Sout Al Jihad [SAJ]: We welcome the Mujahid brother Saleh Al Oufi, God bless him, and ask him to introduce himself to the readers:
Al Oufi [AO]: In the name of God, Most Beneficent and Most Merciful; thanks to Him who is the ruler of those who fear Him; prayer and peace upon the Messenger of the Sword for the mercy of the subjects, Mohammad Bin Abdullah, all his companions and followers. Nothing is possible without His command …
My name is Saleh Bin Mohammad Bin Awadallah Al Oufi. I was born in “Al Madina Al Nabawiyya” [Prophetic City] at the end of 1391 [Hijri year]. I am married and have two daughters and a son, may God show them the right path of pride and dignity. I dropped out of school in my second year of the secondary school. Afterwards, I joined the military for one and a half years approximately. God provided me guidance and I knew the road to pride and dignity. I had my own trade business, and God rewarded me greatly, to the extent that I kept lending money to my brothers who were employed with salaries ranging between 6,000 and 15,000 [Riyals]. Thanks to God. As the Iman “Malik” said (Trade represents nine tenth of earning a living).
SAJ: What are the war fronts that you participated in? And which one you feel is closest to your heart?
AO: In the name of God, thanks and praises to Him, after He showed me the right way, I knew that, the Jihad for God and the preparation for His way is every Muslim’s duty at this time, in order to recover the Muslims’ country and liberate it from the occupation. These are the “Fatwa”s [advisory opinions] of the truthful scholars. God blessed me with my involvement in Afghanistan, with the hero “Abu Maaz Al Khawasti”, may God accept him as one of the martyrs and allow us to follow him to Heaven above. Then I served in Tajikistan with the hero “Khattab”, may God accept him as one of the martyrs and allow us to follow him to Heaven above. Afterwards, I took part in the Jihad of my brothers in Chechnya against their enemies, the Crusaders. Then God allowed me to be part of the Jihad in the “Islamic Principality” against the international crusade. In this war front, He granted us the blessing of defending the one and only Islamic State. In this State, the Mullah Mohammad Omar favored the other world over the earthly world, and sold everything he owned in order to please his God and support His oppressed subjects. For this reason, this front is the closest to my heart, for I saw in it the Islamic State. This State is formed by the boundaries of God and the succession of His subjects, and is opposed to His enemies. I ask God to enable us very soon, to erect the State of Islam one more time, for He is generous and powerful.
SAJ: What is your evaluation from the military point of view of the confrontations between the soldiers of the Idols’ regime in the Arab Peninsula and the heroic Mujahideen?
AO: In the name of God, Most Beneficent and Most Merciful; thanks to Him. First, I would like to remind of what God above had commanded in his Noble Book (those who have believed fight for the sake of God, and those who have blasphemed fight for Idols. You must fight Satan’s subjects, for the craftiness of Satan is weak). Then, I warn that, initially, the Mujahideen have not entered into confrontations with the regime’s soldiers on purpose. The confrontations that took place with the permission of God above, may He be praised, were attacks carried out by the enemies against the Mujahideen in their homes. Despite that, the regime and its soldiers are inflicted with great losses. Although sudden attacks should be in favor of the attacker, however, due to God’s will first, and the Mujahideen’s capability to maneuver and fight, their experience, their love for martyrdom for the sake of God, and their eagerness to meet Him, always have the final word in favor of the Mujahideen, even if some of the brothers are killed in the confrontations… Despite the regime’s efforts to lift the spirits of their soldiers and encourage them, we find that they are afraid to die, as they are only fighting for their salaries. Otherwise, what are the rewards and the promotions for? (Such was the case with the Pharaoh, when the magicians asked him if they would compensated in case they won, and he said: Yes, and you shall be close to me). This is what is happening today, and is the case of the Mujahideen in their confrontations with the regime’s soldiers.
SAJ: What is your advice to the comrades who, using trivial excuses, abandoned their weapons, quit fighting and blocked their ears to the call for the Jihad in the Arab Peninsula?
AO: In the name of God and thanks to Him. Firstly, I would like to remind of God’s saying in His Noble Book, may He be praised: (Those who fight for the Jihad, do it for themselves, as God does not need His subjects’ support). Secondly, I remind them of Mohammad’s saying, prayer and peace upon him: (Those who abandon the Jihad shall not escape humiliation). This is obvious in the case of our brothers who left their dignity and honor behind, and dropped their weapons. If we look at them, we find them afraid and humiliated. They are afraid of the policemen, and humiliated every time they are called by them, or when they have to go weekly to stamp their signature. This is humiliation and cowardice in their most meaningful senses. I say to them: Go back to your honor and dignity. Go back to your religion and your Jihad; then you will be highly regarded in this and the other worlds. You will be feared by those who are humiliating you, and you humiliate them instead. You will avenge your Religion and yourselves. Either have a life that pleases your friends, or die from what enrages your enemies. I pray that God show them the right way and brings them back in a nice way.
SAJ: How do you feel after your name has appeared on the first and second lists of the “wanted” by the Ministry of Interior? Has this action had any effect on your Jihad course?
AO: In the name of God and thanks to Him. When we came back to this country and participated with our brothers in the Jihad in the “Islamic Principality”, we expected anything from this regime except the issuance to the names and the release of the pictures, because America is looking for many of those heroes, we ask God to protect them. When my name was on the first and second lists, I was grateful to God and did not condemn it for three reasons:
1. Because, in fighting the truthful Mujahideen, the regime is trying to put out the light of God by blindly following America and its supporters. The Mujahideen are the first and last danger on the Jews and Christians who are the true strangers, while the Mujahideen belong to the “Al Ta’ifa Al Mansoura” [the victorious sect].
2. Because, thanks to God alone, we were raised above the spearheads of the religion. Therefore, a tax must be paid for this rise; the tax is as high as the level of its payer, hence, it is very expensive.
3. Because God above said in His Noble Book: (Or did you think that you can enter the Heavens without going through the same pains as those before you, who, together with their Prophet, suffered to the extent that they asked when the victory of God would happen. But God’s victory shall happen soon). Also because the Prophet, prayer and peace upon him, said: (One is inflicted misfortunes of his caliber). He said too: (Those who suffered most were the Prophets, then those who are similar to them)… We ask God to raise us in both worlds, and enable us to erect the “Islamic State”. Our gratitude is to him in the beginning and in the end.
SAJ: Do you think that, in order for them to escape imprisonment, it is better for you and your “wanted” brothers to go to Iraq at this time and fight the Crusaders there?
AO: In the name of God and thanks to Him. God above said: (Believers, fight the Blasphemers who soften you, let them see the roughness in you, and know that God is on the side of those who fear Him). Based on this, I categorically refuse that I or my “wanted” brothers go to Iraq. Besides, our enemies, the Crusaders, have invaded Iraq through this land. They do not run Iraq’s affairs from there, rather they do it here. The enemies are effectively abundantly present in this Peninsula. Why go follow the Crusaders’ tails when their heads and bases and supports are on this blessed land. As for the fear of imprisonment, this does not discourage the Mujahid from supporting the truth. The Mujahid should pray to God “to keep imprisonment, amputation, and defeat from him”, then rely on Him, may He be praised, go for the Jihad and weaken the Nation’s enemies, without fear of being blamed. If imprisonment was God’s plan for him, and he was loyal, his efforts will not be wasted and God will not let him down unless he drifts from the way. In general, several people who are better viewed by God than us, and more honored such as Joseph from the Prophets, peace be on him, and Khabib, Abdullah Bin Hathafa Al Sahmi, and many others from the Companions, were not influenced by imprisonment. The majority of the truthful, such as Ibn Taymiyya and Ahmed Bin Hanbal, God rest their souls, had been held captive. The honorable Sheikh Abu Mohammed Al Maqdessi is currently in a Jordanian prison, may God protect him. His captivity made him stronger and more determined. Besides, going to Iraq does not prevent imprisonment. It increases the chance of imprisonment as those who go there shall unarmed and without protection. In any case, as I said before, imprisonment does not stand in the way of the Jihad and God knows better.
SAJ: Are you willing to take part in the negotiations initiated by the Minister of Interior, especially that they are conducted by people considered to be part of the Islamic trend?
AO: In the name of God and thanks to Him. These negotiations are an indication of a weakness in the regime. As for those who are in charge of them, they are a disgrace to their religion. They are laid back and never fought for or represented the Jihad or the Mujahideen. The Mujahideen will not listen to or obey those who did not cover their feet with dust for the sake of God; our beloved Prophet Mohammad, prayer and peace upon him, did not give disgrace to his Religion. We are following his law, with God’s permission and we will not give infamy to our Religion. As Omar Bin Al Khattab said, God be pleased with him: Messenger of God, aren’t we right whether we get killed or we live? He [the Prophet] said: Yes. He [Bin Al Khattab] said: so, why would there be disgrace in our Religion? Let the whole world know that glory is for God, His Prophet, and the true believers, the Mujahideen.
SAJ: Some think that your being out of sight does not serve the cause, whereas your going to a war front outside the Peninsula would be very helpful. What is your comment on that?
AO: In the name of God and thanks to Him… Our stay here is a hardship on the Blasphemers, and a boost to the spirits of our brothers from the Mujahideen who lack a little bit of courage to support God’s Religion. Thanks to God, we are not hiding. We are working day and night to defeat the enemies of God. We do not pay attention to anyone, and view our sleep and awakening as a reward… If the kings and their sons knew how happy we are, they would fight us with the swords have our happiness. We will not leave this land. It is our land, and we are the grandsons of the “Sahaba”. How can we leave it? Who had better leave, us or the rancorous American Crusaders who are occupying our land??!
By God we will not leave this land until the enemies of God do so, and the Religion flag is erected, or otherwise our blood is shed and the land is irrigated with it. We pray that God help us hanging on to this right until we meet Him.
SAJ: Would you like to address a word to the Mujahideen who go to Iraq?
AO: In the name of God and thanks to Him. The truth is that there are three categories of Mujahideen who go to Iraq:
1. The first category consists of those who went to Iraq and are now in the battlefield. I pray that God assist them, deceive their enemies, and appease the chests of the Believers through them. They are watching over a great Islamic borderline. May God assist and triumph them soon.
2. The second category consists of those who intended and still sincerely intend to go to Iraq. I tell them the following: “Your country, the Peninsula, is in greater need of your services. There are several borderlines here to protect. The enemy that you want to go to, those who are defaming the honors in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and in Palestine, that enemy is here, amongst you. He is on your land, pillaging your Religion and your treasures. It is the lawful duty of a Muslim to close the hole that is nearest to him. Clerics have agreed that, if an enemy occupies one of the Muslim countries, he needs to be pushed away from the nearest point, then the one after that.”
3. The third category consists of the weak, who have not gone to Iraq and will never go. They use going to Iraq as an excuse to relinquish from fighting [in the Peninsula]. {Verses from the Qur’an}…Those must repent to God and remove their sin by the Jihad for the sake of God, and by good intentions. By good intentions I mean, joining their Mujahideen brothers of Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula, in their fight against the Jews and the Crusaders. They have been pledging that they will fight for the Jihad on any territory, and that they will support the oppressed anywhere. God will ask them about all that. Let them not be deluded, for God knows their intentions, and sees through the depth of their souls. We pray that God discard our vices, forgive us, show us the truth, and give us His graces.
SAJ: Would you like to address a word to the Mujahideen in the Arab Peninsula too?
AO: In the name of God and thanks to Him. To my brothers and beloved, who are patiently positioned in the Arab Peninsula, I say what God has said: “(Believers, be patient in your positions, persevere, fear God, and you might be successful). Rejoice! The strangers are a few, and in the end the “Victorious Denomination” [Atta’ifa Al-Mansoura] will be the few left. Islam will be strange as it started, and a denomination from Mohammad’s Ummah will keep fighting for the truth. They will not be affected by those who deceived or disagreed with them. I remind you that victory comes with patience. It is an hour of patience. Those who fear God will have either one of two fates: Victory or Martyrdom. Both fates are noble. I also remind you that the Prophet, peace and prayer on him, did not announce the conquest of Persia and Rome to his companions, after the erection of the Islamic State. He did so in the most difficult and tough situations, at a time when the hearts of his truthful believing companions were touching their throats [in fear]. At the time, they were having doubts about God. Thanks to God; it is God’s law to give difficult times and lack of support to His fearing adorers…” I pray that God Bless us and our brothers positioned in the Arab Peninsula with truthfulness, patience, and loyalty. He is powerful and generous.
SAJ: Would you like to address a word to the families of the “Wanted” Brothers, after the distortion created by Al Seloul’s media? [By Al Seloul, they mean Al Saud. Al Seloul suggests that they are like tuberculosis].
AO: In the name of God and thanks to Him. I say to the Brothers’ families: Seek the truth, you know who is truthful. It is enough for you to know the path of your “wanted” sons and parents and their attachment to God’ Religion. They have left the entire world for the support of the Religion and the oppressed people. Do not be influenced by Al Seloul’s media that has deformed their course and their image. Such is the case of whoever is in conflict with them. Their reputation and their image are deformed. When the conflict is ideological, the deformation is obviously wider. The same thing happened with the most noble prophet, when the Blasphemers in Quraysh distorted his reputation and his clear image, calling him a magician, a liar, and a crazy man. He was far from all those things but the conflict created all that. In the end, I say to the families and to all those got confused in their religion by the media, and its distortion of the Mujahideen heroes’ image without proof, I simply tell them: Look and see who amongst you and your families were pleased with the Mujahideen or who were angry with them?! Who is pleased with Al Seloul’s regime, and who is angry with it? Those who were pleased with the “wanted” are the sincere and truthful individuals. They might be a minority from the Mujahideen and truthful clerics and custodians. However, those who were angry were the Jews, the Christians, and their followers [their tails]. The Jews and the Crusaders such as the Americans are pleased with Al Seloul’s regime, whereas every loyal Mujahid and every true cleric are locked in Satan’s prisons. Our proof comes from God’s Book, by which we measure all the aforementioned (the Jews and the Christians shall not be pleased with you until you join their denomination.
SAJ: Would you like to say a final word?
AO: In the name of God and thanks to Him for every person on the face of this Earth. I would like to address a final word to my own people, whom I know very well and who know me very well. I have walked along their side on the path of glory and pride, and I learned loyalty, innocence, and endurance of harm. Fear God, your Lord. Deliverance comes in fearing Him and obeying His Prophet’s orders, peace and prayer on him. Do not deceive the truth, as you are following the truth. [Quotes from the Qur’an]…
Do not look for the pleasures of the world. You have taught us not to do that. [Quotes from the Qur’an]… Fear God and His punishment. I pray that God gives you and us guidance to reach prosperity in this world and the other world.
